Jay Danley

Toronto Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass Teacher

Project Description

AEP (RCM – Pending)

Jay Danley learned his first guitar chords from his father at the age of five. His early formal training came from taking private drum lessons from a number of Toronto’s most distinguished drummers, most notably two years with master drummer Dan Bodanis.

Jay’s teen years were spent in various bands that traveled Ontario and parts of Canada and the U.S. Since that time, Jay’s musical interests have taken him in many different directions.

In 1993 Jay was a founding member of the music/theater improvisation group The Subtonic Monks. The group consisted of an eclectic group of musicians and artists that relied on instinct and communication. This group performed at the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal and made several appearances on the CBC.

In 1993 Jay was also hired as the rhythm guitarist for the group Showtime who perform hits from the swing era, where Jay began his deep love for jazz. Showtime has recorded four albums, appeared at Roy Thompson Hall, performed concerts with the world famous vocal group The Four Freshman, been joined by such jazz luminaries as Rick Wilkins, Charlie Mountford, Chase Sanborn and currently performs around Ontario with the legendary Peter Appleyard.

In 1995, Jay was a founding member of Orchesta Klave Y Kongo, a group that specialized in performing the traditional form of Cuban music known as Son Montuno. The band became renowned for their dedication to authenticity, with Jay taking a front and center role playing the “tres”, a type of guitar from Cuba very different from his usual instrument. It was Jay’s abilities on this instrument that led him to play with such musical greats as Jane Bunnett, including a 2001 performance on CBC television for the Gemini Awards show, performing with her at the Ottawa Tulip festival and at Hugh’s Room in Toronto.

Jay has also recorded two records with piano maestro Hilario Duran, one of which was nominated for a 2003 Juno award, and has performed with him on several occasions as a regular member of his group “Havana Remembered”.

Latin music has been a very big part of Jay’s life. In 2005 he shared the stage with salsa legend Oscar D’Leon at Massey Hall, and has performed with members of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club, including the late Compay Segundo and Jay’s musical idol, Eliades Ochoa. One of Jay’s personal hi- lights was when Eliades passed him his guitar to play on stage in 1998.

He has also played with members of Cuban bands Sierra Maestra, Los Van Van, and The Afro-Cuban All-Stars. In 1999, Jay was an original member of the band Son Ache, who performed at the 2002 Beaches Jazz Festival. Son Ache had the honor of opening for Oscar D’Leon, where Oscar asked Jay to come on stage and play a song, and after which repeatedly called him back on.

In 2004 Jay was a founding member of the traditional jazz group The Hogtown Syncopators. With some of the best local jazz musicians in their lineup, including Drew Jureka (violin), Richard Whiteman (piano), and Terra Hazelton (vocals), this group has recorded an album and holds a weekly residency at The Rex hotel in Toronto.

Jay is also a Juno award winning guitarist, having been prominently featured on the 2009 blues album of the year “Ramblin’ Son” by Julian Fauth.

Jay’s latest creation is the Jay Danley Ethiojazz Project.
Jay continues to play in several distinguished jazz and latin bands and currently resides in Toronto.

Hobbies: collecting old magazines

Favorite food: desert!

Least favorite food: mousaka (russian eggplant dish)

Favorite music: ethiojazz (ethiopian scales and jazz)

Favorite song: The Beatles “Strawberry Fields Forever”

Favorite movie: Sunset Boulevard

Favorite movie music: “Taxi Driver” – Bernard Herrman

Best musical theater/opera: Johann Offenbach – “Tales of Hoffman”

Best quote from teacher: “If you do it with all you are, someone somewhere will like it”

Favorite quote: “Be the change in the world you would like to see” – Mahatma Ghandi

Favorite book: “The Game” – Ken Dryden

Best thing about teaching at ABC: sharing the joy of making music with others.

Latest Homework from Jay

Is Jay Your Teacher?

Sign up now to get your weekly assignments delivered, and never lose your homework sheet again!

How to practice most effectively: Go through the notes one at a time, one bar at a time at first. After you can play through bar 1 by itself, add the 2nd bar and see if you can play the first two together without stopping, then continue with bars 3+4 etc. Aim to play through the first 4 lines for next class.

How parents can support practice: Encouraging and suggesting spending time on the instrument is the best way to support practice at home.

Lucien

Recommended minutes to practice: 10 min/day

What to practice: Autumn Leaves (First two phrases)

How to practice most effectively: Go through one note at a time at first to find your letter names for your notes, as well as find your notes on your guitar. After you master finding a section of four notes together, move on to the next section.

How parents can support practice: Lucien has a good start on his song this week, and has been finding his notes on his own, checking with his reference sheet. Encouraging him to spend time practicing, and helping him check his work is the best way to support practice. We tried the first two phrases in class today (first group of 4 notes + second group of 4 notes)

Griffin

Recommended minutes to practice: 15 min/day

What to practice: The Scientist - Melody

How to practice most effectively: Go through the melody to the Verses and compare your notes with the words to the song to check you have a note to each word.

How parents can support practice: Encouraging and suggesting spending time on the instrument is the best way to support practice at home.

Augustine

Recommended minutes to practice: 10 min/day

What to practice: Shake It Off - Prechorus

How to practice most effectively: Take one bar at a time starting out, once you can play from note to note through the bar - add in the next bar and so forth.

How parents can support practice: Have Augustine go through his notes on the instrument, he learned a new note today which is low "E" - 2nd fret on the D string (or 4th string). He can find most of his notes on his own when he's encouraged to make an effort.